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Intrabasin Water Transfers

Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In June of 2008 the Minister of Environment received recommendations on intrabasin transfers from the Alberta Water Council. They recommended that a new policy was needed. On November 8 the minister admitted that he had received the recommendations, that he was still considering them, and an answer was coming sometime in the new year. So to the Minister of Environment: can the minister tell us what the holdup is in his response to the Alberta Water Council’s recommendations and when we can expect an answer? We’re now three months into the new year.

Mr. Renner: Mr. Speaker, the issue with respect to intrabasin transfers of water is that there are already numerous instances where such transfers are taking place and they have historically for a long period of time. It is very difficult to implement a simple solution to this very complex problem. As this member should be aware, we are engaging into a broad consultation with respect to allocation of water. Intrabasin and interbasin transfers obviously are important parts of that.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much. The Water Act defines “basin” very broadly, with only seven basins covering an area of almost 700,000 square kilometres in Alberta. My question to the Minister of Environment is: will he change the definition of a major river basin to redesignate the three subbasins in the South Saskatchewan River basin?

Mr. Renner: Mr. Speaker, the member is absolutely correct. Our policy is abundantly clear: we do not allow for interbasin transfers of water. As the member knows, any such contemplation requires an act of this Legislature. Once you get into subbasins, it gets very, very difficult to distinguish between subbasin rivers and subbasin creeks. The definition required to actually determine what is and is not intrabasin becomes much more complicated, so I can’t give that commitment to this member.

Ms Blakeman: All right, then, to the same minister. He mentioned public consultation that he is already holding on this issue. Would he add to that public consultation the assignment to decide whether or not the three subbasins in the South Saskatchewan River basin should be reclassified into major river basins? This would solve a problem like we have with Balzac. Thank you.

Mr. Renner: Mr. Speaker, I’mnot prone to making policy decisions on the fly in the Legislature. I’ll take that under consideration, and we’ll be announcing appropriate legislation in due course.